Punjab orders crackdown on private medical, dental colleges

Chandigarh, April 26 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered a crackdown on private medical and dental colleges in the state, warning them to either mend ways or shut shop.

Accusing private institutions of engaging in the business of making money at the cost of the students’ future, the Chief Minister issued these orders at a review meeting of the Medical Education, Research, and Health and Family Welfare Department here.

Amarinder Singh warned that private medical and dental colleges found violating admission norms and not delivering quality education would be shut, and said his government will not allow such institutions to play with the future of students.

The future of hundreds of students of Gian Sagar Group’s medical college and Chintpurni Medical College in Punjab remains uncertain.

During the meeting, the Department Secretary said authorities have already clamped down on such private colleges, especially nursing institutions, found flouting norms of admissions and not imparting quality education.

Amid complaints of lack of funds faced by most government medical colleges, the Chief Minister asked Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh to ensure that central funds reserved for medical education are made available to these colleges for infrastructural upgradation and other measures to enhance education quality.

He directed the Chief Secretary to look into Medical Education Department’s complaint that it was not receiving state funding, and work out modalities for fund allocation from the exchequer, as feasible.